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Movies / On DVD / Mildred Pierce
Mildred Pierce

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Mildred Pierce (1945)

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Reviews Counted:30

Fresh:26

Rotten:4

Average Rating:7.6/10

Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: A potent mixture of melodrama and film noir, and one of the finest "women's films" of all time--featuring a standout performance by Joan Crawford. The story begins as the police interrogate Mildred... A potent mixture of melodrama and film noir, and one of the finest "women's films" of all time--featuring a standout performance by Joan Crawford. The story begins as the police interrogate Mildred Pierce, a wealthy restaurateur, after finding her second husband shot to death. In flashback, we see Mildred's life: her obsession with Veda, her selfish oldest daughter; her troubled first marriage, which ended in divorce; the tragic death of her younger child. Left with only Veda, Mildred determined to become successful in order to give her the best of everything -- and she succeeded brilliantly. But the harder Mildred worked, the more the patrician Veda despised her. Now the moment of truth has come: will Mildred once again sacrifice herself to protect her child... from being convicted of murder? Adapted from the novel by James M. Cain. Academy Award Nominations: 6, including Best Picture, Best (Adapted) Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress--Eve Arden and Ann Blyth. Academy Awards: Best Actress--Joan CrawFord. [More]

Starring: Joan Crawford, Ann Blyth, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott

Starring: Joan Crawford, Ann Blyth, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden, Bruce Bennett, George Tobias, Lee Patrick, Moroni Olsen, Barbara Brown, Garry Owen

Director: Michael Curtiz

Director: Michael Curtiz
Producer: Jerry Wald
Composer: Max Steiner

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Mildred Pierce

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

An undisputed classic.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
10/17/07
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film is a chilling demonstration of the fact that, in a patriarchal society, when a woman steps outside the home the end result may be disastrous.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It may not be art or good taste, but throbbing melodrama doesn't come with more conviction.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/17/01
Angie Errigo
Angie Errigo
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It is mainly Crawford's triumph, and the most remarkable comeback in Hollywood's history.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/17/01
George Perry
George Perry
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Joan Crawford gives one of her most iconic (Oscar-winning) performances in Michael Curtiz's quintessential film noir and woman's picture of the 1940s.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
03/25/09
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

The archetypal Joan Crawford movie.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
10/17/07
Don Druker
Don Druker
Chicago Reader

A class feature, showmanly produced by Jerry Wald and tellingly directed by Michael Curtiz.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
10/17/07
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A hearty genre pic fraught with tense social/sexual anxieties.

Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | comment Comment
08/07/06
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness

Though all of its craft is accomplished, Mildred Pierce never gets deep under one's skin the way it ought to.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
06/15/05
Jeremiah Kipp
Jeremiah Kipp
Slant Magazine

It shows its age in some scenes...yet it survives them all with its riveting performances.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
06/12/05
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

No review available.

comment Comment
04/07/05
Andy Klein
Andy Klein
Los Angeles CityBeat

No review available.

comment Comment
02/24/05
Greg Maki
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

No review available.

comment Comment
01/24/05
Michael E. Grost
Michael E. Grost
Classic Film and Television

Great middle-period Crawford, strong story

comment Comment
10/23/04
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan

Most of the story has nothing to do with crime, and is instead about the efforts of Crawford’s character to better herself (she starts a popular restaurant) so she can remain in the good graces of her relentlessly snobbish daughter. It is a clever b

comment Comment
10/14/04
Douglas Pratt
Douglas Pratt
DVDLaser

No review available.

comment Comment
09/23/04
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

Smart and brisk, just soapy enough to be as tragic as it is fun. "Mildred Pierce" is one of the best movies made by its star, Joan Crawford.

Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | comment Comment
08/04/04
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

No review available.

comment Comment
06/04/04
Sarah Chauncey
Sarah Chauncey
Reel.com

Overrated but still effective noirish soaper.

comment Comment
02/11/04
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

No review available.

comment Comment
08/29/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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